FROM STAFF REPORTS

BIRMINGHAM— Pelham-based organization, Sight Savers America, held a special luncheon March 10 at Regions Field to present its third annual Hall W. Thompson Hero For Sight Award.

A March 11 press release announced this year’s recipient was the Monday Morning Quarterback Club/Crippled Children’s Foundation. The release stated the organization was chosen because of its strong commitment to helping improve children’s eye care in Alabama and its long-term support of Sight Savers America.

Their generosity has helped provide eye exams, eyeglasses, specialized eye care treatment, high tech vision aids and numerous other life-changing treatments for more than 10,000 Alabama children, according to the press release.

“Sight Savers America is pleased to honor Monday Morning Quarterback Club/Crippled Children’s Foundation with our third annual Hall W. Thompson Hero For Sight Award,” said Jeff Haddox, founder and CEO of Sight Savers America. “They have been a long term supporter of our organization’s work to improve children’s eye care in Alabama, and they embody exactly what this award is all about.”

Sight Savers America’s award is named after Hall W. Thompson, who was a business leader in the state, served on the board of Sight Savers America and had a profound impact on the organization and on children’s vision issues in Alabama.

The award is presented each year to recognize an individual or organization whose impact on children’s eye care has been both long lasting and profound.

Sight Savers America commemorated this year’s award through an original painting created by Amy Monthei, a nationally known artist from Honolulu who was able to overcome her own severe visual impairment to create artwork.

The award is permanently displayed on a 25-foot tribute wall on the first floor lobby of the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. The tribute space includes permanent recognition for the award recipients along with the commemorative artwork.

Sight Savers America is an Alabama-based nonprofit that was founded in 1997. Its mission is to identify and secure treatment for unmet vision and health needs that impede a child’s ability to succeed in school and in life.

Sight Savers America serves more than 60,000 children each year through its four programs. For more information about Sight Savers America, visit Sightsaversamerica.org.